Africa

Would you believe it if I told you that this ruin of a Kasbah (a mud brick fortress) holds deep within it a magnificent surprise – one of the finest gems of Moroccan-Andalusian artistry and craftsmanship? This hidden gem however awaits discovery only by those…

We arrived in Marrakech by road early in the afternoon, after spending five days and nights up in the Atlas Mountains. We were in Marrakech for five nights, out of which the last two were at Riad El Fenn. A Riad is a traditional Moroccan…

We spent three nights at the magnificent Riad named Palais Amani, in the ancient Medina (fortified old town) of Fez. The Fez Medina is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to be one of the world’s largest car-free urban areas. Founded in…

The day-long winding drive between Fez (nestled between the Rif and the Middle Atlas Mountains) and Merzuga (in the Moroccan Sahara) was the most spectacular, rich and visually diverse road trip I have taken so far. In a single day, we went from cedar-oak-pine clad…

During my trip to the Ziwa National Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda, I spent about two hours with my forest guard cum guide, trailing Rhinos (a group of three adult females and a delightfully playful calf), often coming face to face, albeit from a short distance,…

The Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP) stretches over 1,440 square kilometers in the north-east extreme of Uganda, bordering South Sudan and Kenya. It is characterized by seemingly endless arid and semi-arid rolling plains, intersected by hills, rocky outcrops, ridges and mountain ranges. The national park…

The Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP) is a prime African wilderness, extremely remote and difficult to get to. It is a vast, rugged, wild and magnificent expanse of savannah, literally untouched by outside world. In 2013, it was listed in the top ten choices of…

The Kidepo Valley National Park (KVNP) is a prime African wilderness, extremely remote and difficult to get to. It is a vast, rugged, wild and magnificent expanse, literally untouched by outside world. In 2013, it was listed in the top ten choices of national parks…

I spent over an hour gazing at a group of 25 Giraffes in the Narus Valley, during an early morning Game Drive, deep into the park. The Narus Valley is a part of the expansive Kidepo Valley National Park in extreme north-east of Uganda, bordering…

A masterpiece of Moorish-Andalusian Islamic art and architecture, the extravagantly beautiful Bou Inania Madrasa (Koranic School) in Fez dazzled our eyes and lifted our spirits. We were on a 24-day private tour of Morocco, with Journey Beyond Travel​. Originally built by the Merenid Sultan, Abu…

Crossing the Atlas Mountains in the morning, we arrived at day’s end, into the desolate sands of Erg Chebbi, in the Moroccan Sahara. The day long road trip from Fez to Erg Chebbi took us through a surreal kaleidoscope of contrasting landscapes and vegetation. We…

We spent a night near the spectacular Todra Gorge, sleeping in a cave at the Auberge Le Festival. Well it really wasn’t as dramatic and adventurous as it sounds. It was a cave alright, but a well appointed one, with an en-suite bathroom. The Auberge…